Michael Brown

So what whee,l tyre, sizes are standard to the Alphard

215/65/16   Gives a good ride and you don't feel the bumps as much

So what are the standard fit tyres reccommended for our Alphards ?

Best way to test this is to carry a jerry can of petrol and a spout or funnel and run out of petrol making a note for future how far you drove with the orange light on. about 3 months ago my Alfie was 60 miles into the orange light zone and the fuel gauge was showing empty, I eventually got to the regular BP filling station I use on A272/A32 crossroads and filled her up, 65 litres were put in, tank holds 70. 65 litres so far is the most I have put in. I don't as yet carry a can.

Does one need a certificate to carry and use the aerosol type of gas can, as I would do any cooking or heating of kettle on a portable stove in the drive away awning and not in the vehicle ?

Before the Alphard I had several mk2 Estima's, My local mechanic Colin Cambell at CMC Autos in Sidlesham, mobile no 07970 072239 or work no 01243 641134 has looked after all my needs. Sometimes I got the parts, most times he got and fitted them. I don't concider him expensive. Been using him since 2011. He services my Alphard and reccommended Peter Holland for the electrics. He was the chap who imported a new Inverter from Japan for me and fitted it. Not had a problem since.

It also depends on one's age and if you have had a few accidents in the last 5 years, be it your fault or not

I tend to put my hand up to other Alphard drivers as a mark of respect that they have one. I have had a few drivers  putting a hand up and I acknowledge them. I am seeing fewer and fewer Alphards on the roads I am using. I display a club badge front and back.

Heaters now working, I was looking at a similiar thread to mine here, that by taking off the radiator caps, starting the engine, then topping up with water with an antifreeze solution in, one could just wait for the air bubbles to come out. It took a little time, but a lot of air bubbles came out. I was shocked that I put in 2 Litres of fluid in. When the bubbles stopped I put the radiator caps back on and after the engine warmed up I tried the heater and lovely war air came through, Magic.

Thank you Richard, Roger and others for your help, This forum is a mind of information.

Thank you Richard, I will give it a try. Also I will check the radiator, open the caps, start her up and see if any air bleeds out, top up if neccesary and replace the caps

What and where is the flap valve. The radio works fine

Thank you Roger, but I am absolutely stumped. Maybe its a different place on the hybrid. I took off the cover on the wheel arch and it shows  a diagram of what it looks like. I read somewhere its near front passenger seat ? I have had 3 attempts to find the fuse bank, its not there?

Just having to wear more jumpers wile driving till I do. I have watced a Utube clip showing the fuse box. All I can find is a lt of padding and a mass of cables

Still not been able to find the bally fuse box for to change the aircon fuse

I have used the RAC since 1982 and have used them on many occasion. My former Estima's and now current Alphard have been on many a transporter. My current fee for the year is £256.

The first thing I did on buying my Hybrid Alphard was to send away for the Hybrid version of the manual. I bought the Alphard manual from ebay and it was posted from New Zealand. It has been quite helpful and the picture on the front is the same colour as my Alfie in Olive Green

Does anyone know for sure if you can fit a towbar to a 2007 2.4 Alphard Hybrid ?

I consider myself a fairly safe driver until 2020. Then 3 accidents in a 3 year period, 20, 21 & 22 and nothing since I lost 60% and am down to 40% on my no claims, just will have to build it back up again. I have always had fully comprehensive  car insurance.

I really like the Estima and now the Alphard as they are well appointed in their construction and inside luxury. Also I cannot afford to buy a newer vehicle. As it is I paid £9,500. for Alfie back in August 2022 and I want to get some more use from driving it. Lovely vehicle to drive.

I have had the misfortune to have made 3 claims in a 5 year period. But been clear since June 2022. I bought my present 2.4 Alphard on August 27th 2022. The insurance on top of £500. I had already paid for my 2004 Estima was an additional £1,500. When my Alphard insurance came up for renewal on the 3rd March 2023 it was a staggering £3,600. + a loading to pay it over 12 months took it to around £4,200. Then the Inverter went and was replaced with a brand new one imported from Japan for £5,200. ( including VAT and Delivery )+ fitting and set up charge and whilst Alfie was off the road I hired a car for 5 weeks @ £350. a week.

So all in I have had an expensive time, my love affair with Japanese imports since 2007, may be coming to an end. As the renewal quote for Alfie is slightly cheaper this year at £3,600. including payment plan loading. I understand from my insurance broker who I have been with since 1975, that there are only 2 companies who will insure me, Aviva is the one I am with plus one other Sabre but their quote was around £500 more than Aviva. My broker said get rid of the import and your premium will drop by a lot as the insurance companies don't like insuring the imports and are quick to write them off with the smallest of accident, quoting we can't get the parts mate.

So I will drive Alfie for another year and see what next years quote will be. I hope to make the meet up this year as last year I had a stroke and could not drive for a month which happened to fall around last years meet up time.

Hoping its drier tomorrow , I will have another look

thank you Roger

I managed to remove the bottom glove box, front passenger side, but could not see a fuse box. Does one have to remove the cover over the left wheel arch too ?

The fan works, but the heater does not work, any suggestions gratefully received, fuse maybe ? and where is it.

Get someone to stand behind your vehicle who will hopefully tell you what happns when you press th brake pedal

Having spent a few nights under canvas trying to sleep and being very very cold then making a bed and sleeping in my old Estima Mk2 there's no comparison. Much much warmer, you are off the ground and no drafts . I'd post a picture to show you but those pics are in an old computer that crashed and I don't think I saved the pics onto a memory stick.. So waiting for warmer weather to set up Alfie with the bed and air awning in my garden

No Roger, its finding the time to do it and its not raining. I have a funnel, hose pipe and a hair dryer. I did try to get one of the bulbs out but could not do it in fear of breaking it. I will wait till we get some better weather and try again